Engine construction



' April 27,1937. M. c. SEARLE ENGINE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M. c. SEARLE ENGINE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 8, 1955 f I F W i l l I l I l l l I i i L l Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improvement in engine construction and especially for internal combustion engines, and has for its object to provide an engine so constructed that as many cylinders may be employed as desired, said cylinders each being mounted between two of the columns forming the framework of the engine, and each cylinder being adapted to oscillate between said columns so that the pistons will move up and down in a true parallel line with the cylinders, thereby preventing any side strain on the piston.

A further object of my invention is to provide means, such as adjustable cables, rods, or hands,

' extending around each column and base to prevent stretching or yielding of the metal forming the columns due to the strain caused by the compression and expansion strokes of the piston.

The invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of the parts and combination of parts hereinafter more fully set forth in the following specification and pointed out in detail in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my invention partly in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of my invention showing three columns and base, one of said columns being broken away, and two cylinders mounted between the columns.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views thereof, I designates the base and 2 the columns which are secured to the base I in any suitable manner. The columns 2 are connected by plates 3 on opposite sides to hold them in proper alignment.

The upper surface of the columns 2 and the lower surface of the base I are provided with grooves in which the cables 4 fit. The cables 4 each have a block 5 on its ends each of which is provided with a threaded aperture 6 into which the turnbuckles I project. The said turnbuckles I have a right and a left hand thread and a nut 8 by means of which they can be turned to tighten the cables 4 on the columns and base, thereby retaining the metal forming the columns and base under compression and preventing stretching or yielding of the metal due to thestrain caused by the compression and expansion strokes of the pistons. The cylinders 9 are eachmounted between the columns 2 and are held 5 therein by the pins, or shafts, II) which latter project through the upper ends of the columns 2 and the projections II at the upper ends of the cylinders. The cylinders 9 are adapted to oscillate 'between the columns 2 as the crankshaft turns thereby allowing the pistons I2 to move up and down in the cylinders B in a true parallel line with the cylinders. The crankshaft I3 is mounted in the base I and can have any number of cranks according to the number of pistons to be employed. The piston stems l4 are connected to the crankshaft I3 in the usual manner.

It will thus be seen that by the use of my invention any number of columns and cylinders may be employed to make up the engine, according to the particular use for which engine is to be designed.

It will also be seen that by the use of the cables, rods or bands 4 the metal forming the columns and base are always held under compression and will thereby be prevented from stretching or yielding due to the strain caused by the compression and expansion strokes of the piston, and the oscillating of the cylinders will permit the pistons to always maintain a true parallel line with the cylinders as the crankshaft revolves.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

An engine comprising a plurality of columns each having a, grooved upper surface, a plate connecting the said columns to hold them in their proper relative positions, a base to which said columns are secured and having grooves in its lower surface, cylinders mounted between said columns and adapted to oscillate therebetween, a crankshaft mounted in said base, a piston in each of said cylinders and connected to the crankshaft, cables extending around the outer surface of each of said columns and base and resting in said grooves, and a turnbuckle connecting the ends of each cable to tighten the cables on the columns and base.

MELVILLE C. SEARLE. 

